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Green Cards for Family Members

If you want to become a lawful, permanent resident based on the fact that you have a relative who is a citizen of the United States or a relative who is a lawful, permanent resident, you must go through a multi-step process. A foreign spouse married to a U.S. citizen, for instance, can begin the process of filing for a green card. The steps, as outlined by USCIS, are as follows:

First, the USCIS must approve immigrant visa petitions, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative and I-485Application to Register Permanent Residence for you. This petition is filed by your relative (sponsor) and must be accompanied by proof of your relationship to the requesting relative.

Second, the Department of State must determine if an immigrant visa number is immediately available to you, the foreign national, even if you are already in the United States. When an immigrant visa number becomes immediately available to you, it means that you can apply to have one of the immigrant visa numbers assigned to you. You can check the status of a visa number in the Department of State’s Visa Bulletin.

Third, if you are already in the United States, you may apply to change your status to that of a lawful permanent resident after a visa number becomes available for you. This is one way you can apply to secure an immigrant visa number. If you are outside the United States when an immigrant visa number becomes available for you, you must then go to the U.S. consulate servicing the area in which you reside to complete your processing. This is the other way in which you can apply to secure an immigrant visa number.

If you wish to work while waiting on your application to be approved, you must petition for I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (EAD). This document will allow you to work legally in the United States and to request a Social Security Number.

Reez and Associates expert team will guide you through the process step by step and prepare you for the Adjustment of Status interview with USCIS.

Please visit USCIS’s website for more specific and detailed information regarding this process.